TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.9*
Why: Readers say, "I know hate is a strong word but ... I hate this mascara! The brush was too thin, the mascara smelled bad and it didn't do anything for my lashes except give it clumps." Another reader who is Asian with short, straight eyelashes says, "this mascara did not work for me. When I applied Maybelline's Stiletto mascara, the curl that I got from the Shu Uemura eyelash curler was gone!" One reader was disappointed saying, "the mascara is nothing like the commercial says it is." Another says, "I found the consistency just awful, which I should have taken as an omen that the product would not wear well, which it did not. The mascara wore off about half-way through my day [and] the raccoon circles under my eyes were definitely not the effect I was looking for."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.6*
Why: One reader calls this product "a total bust." She goes on to say, "the coverage is horrible: it looks patchy and uneven. The brush is rough and irritating. During the summer it caused my face to be itchy." Another reader laments, "reapplying all the time is no fun. I really wanted a talc-free foundation, but this one is not compatible with my oily skin, it wears off very easily, and I found myself having to reapply it every hour. It looked darker in the package, but didn't come off that dark on my face." And another reviewer says, "the attached brush has GOT to go. It's horribly rough on my skin, too small for my liking and just more trouble than it's worth."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.6*
Why: One reader says this "didn't even make it to my face... I was so excited to try this out that I decided to apply a little of it in my car. I struggled to open the horrible package, but when I did, a puff of the powder -- well, puffed -- in my car. As I watched the puff dissipate in the air, I watched the powder sparkle in the sunshine. Up until that point, I don't think I'd ever seen powder foundation glitter like that. Needless to say, I didn't even want to put it on my face, and I returned it very soon after purchasing it." Other readers who did apply it to their skin say it "isn't very good. I was satisfied by its coverage, but it had sparkles in it that I didn't like. It also clogged my pores, which I realized after switching foundations."
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.5*
Why: "This is another one of the new Revlon products that seems pretty cool, but just doesn't pan out in the application process," says one reader. "First of all, the name of the product is misleading in that the topping doesn't taste like sugar. In fact, it doesn't have any taste. The models look good with this on, but I haven't been able to achieve the look I've seen in magazines. This product requires too much work and fussing for the price." One reader doesn't like the texture of the product saying, "the topping feels like sugar on your lips, all gritty like. It's definitely not a sexy feeling. And the grittiness didn't go away. I definitely would not buy this again. Some makeup is well worth the extra money. This was not one of them." One person says, "this product just doesn't last. Within seconds of application it is gone!"
TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.4*
Why: One reader calls this product, "beyond disgusting!" She goes on to explain, "I applied it on my face and found it difficult to blend. Once I completed the application I was not left with a velvety skin surface like primers are supposed to do, and also my skin still looked visibly oily in certain places. I applied my makeup as usual, and found that it wore off through the day as if I had not applied any type of primer whatsoever. In addition, for those with sensitive skin, you may find that this product may also sting." Another reader says, "I was not impressed with this primer. It has little flecks of shimmer in it, it smells weird... I don't feel like it moisturized my skin at all, and I noticed absolutely no difference in the feel or look of my skin."
Isn't it the worst when you are super excited to try out that hot, new lipstick shade or the latest smoky eye gizmo, so you buy it and rush home or -- who are we kidding -- into your car to try it, only to be disappointed? Whether it's a chi chi product or a cheap makeup item, it's a bust either way. Spending any amount on makeup (even if it's only $1.99) that doesn't work is still a waste of money, not to mention it's really annoying. And no matter how affordable drugstore beauty products are, if they don't work, they're never a good deal.
Our readers have had firsthand, bad experiences with cheapie makeup, which, um, make up our list of the 16 worst drugstore makeup products. See the list now. You'll hear them rant about mascara that clumps, makes you look like a raccoon by the end of the day and/or is hard to remove; lament about sticky, gooey, syrup-y, suffocating lip glosses, and complain about powder that doesn't provide sufficient coverage, wears off too fast and is awkward to use. And the list goes on...
We're not suggesting that you have to spend your whole paycheck at a department store cosmetic counter because there are awesome drugstore buys out there too (check out the top 11 drugstore mascaras), we're just saying you might want to avoid the products on this particular list.
While you've got budget beauty on your mind, check out these other stories that'll also help you save a few bucks.
